Sprrrrring Break!!!

Well contrary to popular practices, my final Spring Break of college was not outrageously wild by any means. As a matter of fact my spring breaks have gotten increasingly less exotic as the years have gone by. 

Freshman year, three floormates and I got all hyped up and on a whim purchased four plane tickets to Huntington Beach, California for the week. The sunbathing was freezing, but we were adventurous and went out and saw as much of the pacific coast as we could reach on the bus. 

The next year, still with sun on the mind but a little more broader sights, I took advantage of one of my favorite Coe staples: The Alternative Spring Break. That particular year I joined the college's chaplain and 21 other students on a road trip down to Gulfport, Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina relief. After what was one of the most eye-opening and changeful weeks of my life, I came back to Coe with a tan and some perspective. 

Thinking in the same vein but eager to explore other parts of the States, I took off to New York City for the Alternative Spring Break in March of 2008. Our group of 16 took a 24-hour train from Chicago to Brooklyn and stayed at a YMCA for the entire week. Each day we dedicated to a different volunteer organization, and I'd like to attribute my interest in volunteering and its wide range of opportunities to this trip specifically. 

Although the last two Spring Break trips cost me virtually nothing, they weren't nearly as cost-efficient as this year's break. Still feeling well-traveled from my four months in Europe, and more importantly sensing the quiver-lip in my mom's voice over the phone in anticipation of her "only Katie"'s future fast-approaching, I decided to go nuts and head back home for the week of spring break. Yep, back to good ol' Apple Valley, Minnesota for me. It wasn't crazy, it wasn't out of control, but it was great. I got to sleep in and spend quality time, like real, true, quality time with the members of my family without feeling compressed with a timeline. In anticipation of a future living away from home fast-approaching, it felt like the perfect way to spend my spring break. :)

Now I'm back in socializing mode. With 6 weeks of college left (really?? EEK!) I'm taking it up a notch with quality friend time (while obviously keeping my grades stable :)). Wish me luck!